Local employers and small businesses struggle to attract and retain staff due to housing shortages. Diverse housing ensures workers can live where they work, keeping our economy strong, and our services running.
Housing
Community Conversation Recap: Creating Affordable Housing
On July 7, 2026, more than 60 residents joined Council, housing professionals, and community leaders at the Davidson Centre for a Community Conversation on creating affordable housing in the Municipality of Kincardine.
The conversation explored how we can work together to create 160 affordable homes and support a welcoming, vibrant, and attainable community. Participants shared perspectives on housing supply, affordability, and moving from "Not in My Backyard (NIMBY)" to "Yes in My Backyard (YIMBY)."
The Municipality extends its thanks to everyone who attended and contributed to this respectful and thoughtful discussion, including guest speakers:
- Jennifer van Gennip, Director of Communications & Advocacy- Redwood Park Communities
- Ryan Deska, Strategic Initiatives Consultant on Housing - Community Foundation Grey Bruce
- Joel MacCallum, Executive Director - Ainslie Wood Housing Co-op
- Members of the Ad Hoc Council Committee on Housing
Event Materials
If you were unable to attend, or would like to revisit the discussion, the event materials are available below:
Continue the Conversation: Project 160 – Building Community Together
The Municipality of Kincardine is growing. By 2046, our population is projected to increase from just over 12,000 residents to more than 15,000, creating a need for approximately 900 additional residential units. This projection does not yet account for potential impacts from the Bruce C Project, which could further increase housing demand in our community.
To help address local housing needs, Council’s vision is to work together to create 160 new below-market rental and ownership residential units with a monthly housing cost between $1,088 and $1,740.
Project 160: Building Community Together is about creating housing opportunities that help to:
- Retain the local workforce
- Support seniors and retain youth
- Help young families stay local
- Sustain local businesses
- Strengthen community vitality
Housing is about more than buildings. It’s about affordability, community character, local jobs, seniors, young families, the economy, and the future we want for the Municipality of Kincardine.
We want to understand what residents are thinking—not just whether you support or oppose different housing options. Your feedback will help shape the conversation and identify where more information, dialogue, and common ground may be needed.
Complete the Project 160: Building Community Together survey
Survey responses are anonymous. If you have questions, need additional information, or would like a paper copy of the survey, please contact Lorie Fioze at lfioze@kincardine.ca or 519-396-3468.
Welcome Home
The Municipality of Kincardine is growing carefully and steadily, with the population expected to increase from just over 12,000 to more than 15,000 by 2046. That means nearly 900 new homes are needed to meet demand—yet most of our housing stock remains single-detached homes, limiting affordability and choice. From townhomes and duplexes to small apartments and additional dwelling units on existing properties, diverse housing is essential to keeping the community vibrant, inclusive, and sustainable.
From young adults to seniors, new Canadians to long-time community members, people are struggling to find rental or ownership options that allow them to move out on their own, downsize in their retirement, have enough room for their growing family, or move here to start an exciting new job.
These are our neighbours, co-workers, and friends. We need to keep them here to keep our economy strong. Businesses are losing workers that provide the services we all rely on for our health, wellbeing, leisure and community prosperity.
Here are 10 reasons why diverse housing matters in the Municipality of Kincardine:
1. Support local jobs and economy
2. Attract new talent and innovation
Welcoming newcomers with a range of housing choices brings new skills, perspectives, and innovation to the Municipality of Kincardine, enriching our community and economy.
3. Welcome young people to stay
Without affordable starter homes or rentals, young adults leave here to find housing elsewhere. Diverse housing helps them stay, contribute, and build their futures in the community they love.
4. Make housing more affordable
Seasonal workers and year-round staff need places to live. A mix of housing options means more access to short-term jobs, more open shops, restaurants, and attractions for residents and visitors alike.
5. Strengthen community volunteerism
When people live near their work, they have more time to volunteer, participate in events, and support local causes, making the community a more connected and caring place.
6. Reduce pressure on social services
Housing stress contributes to mental health issues, food insecurity, and poverty. Diverse, affordable housing options reduce these pressures and allows social services to focus on those most in need.
7. Preserve our lakeside character
Smart and strategic infill development in existing neighbourhoods helps meet housing needs without sprawling into natural areas. This helps preserve Municipality of Kincardine’s lakeside charm and keeps infrastructure costs lower.
Many older residents want to downsize but can’t find suitable homes. More compact, accessible housing allows them to remain independent and connected to their community.
9. Boost local tourism and retail
With 80% of homes in the Municipality of Kincardine being single-detached, prices are high. Adding townhomes, duplexes, and apartments creates choices for all income levels and life stages.
Welcoming new people here by having enough housing options brings their diverse experiences, customs, and knowledge to share with our community. Neighbourhoods become more inclusive, interesting, and connected.
11. BONUS! It’s the right thing to do
Diverse housing reflects our values of inclusion, fairness, and community. It ensures that everyone, from newcomers to lifelong residents, can find a home.
Housing Action Plan
The Municipality of Kincardine has approved a Housing Action Plan to address the local housing affordability and availability crisis. The Plan includes 13 actions and has three primary goals.
Goal 1: Support a wider variety of diverse housing types, including more rental options.
Goal 2: Proactively plan for future housing growth.
Goal 3: Advocate, collaborate and communicate on housing needs and supports.
Why create a Housing Action Plan?
Housing is a basic human need and impacts every aspect of daily life.
Community consultation for the Corporate Strategic Plan and the Economic Development Strategy identified housing affordability as one of Kincardine’s greatest challenges.
The Housing Action Plan identifies ways that the Municipality can help to:
- align and adopt municipal policies, processes, by-laws and to improve:
- supply and availability of housing
- diversity of housing stock
- affordable housing options
- compliment and support the County of Bruce mandate, roles and responsibilities of their Housing and Homelessness Plan.
- To create community understanding around housing issues and inspire collective action.
How was the community consulted?
The Municipality engaged the public, key stakeholder groups, and specific sectors in conversations around housing. Over 1,300 people contributed to the discussion. A detailed 'What We Heard' report was developed to capture the feedback received.
In April and March 2022, we invited all residents or potential residents to complete a Municipal Housing Survey.
The results are available and helped us better understand housing needs and provide community input on increasing the supply of housing, including more affordable options.
Metroline Research Group, an independent marketing research company, managed the survey execution and data analysis.
The Municipality hosted a Housing Forum on June 8, 2022 to learn best practices from other communities and gather input from community. You can view the presentation from the housing forum.
Since the development of this Housing Action Plan, the Province of Ontario has introduced Bill 23 – More Homes Built Faster Action, 2022. If this Bill is passed the Municipality will need to refresh the Housing Action Plan in order to align with the Provincial directions.
To read more about the potential impacts of this Bill if passed, read the Association of Municipalities of Ontario Unpacking Bill 23 - More Homes Built Faster Act, 2022 Policy Update.
Exploring Solutions to Housing Shortages
BuildingIN Housing Barriers and Opportunities Report
Working to address the housing shortage and explore potential solutions, the BuildingIN Housing Barriers and Opportunities Report was completed to assess the potential for housing development within the Municipality of Kincardine.
BuildingIN reviewed the Municipality’s current planning policies, infrastructure capacity for water and sewer services, and mapping including size and location of lots within the boundaries of Kincardine’s Local Official Plan. Specifically lands that are provided with full municipal services.
The goal of the review was to find areas within the Municipality with opportunity for infill development by utilizing existing municipal roads and services. The report also gives suggestions on zoning and official plan policy changes that would add permitted housing types to more zones without requiring planning applications site specifically.
View the presentation that was provided to Council on August 13th, 2025.
A Housing Crunch and a Hunger for Change
The A Housing Crunch and a Hunger for Change survey report presents research on residents' perspectives related to housing, affordability, quality of life, real estate, and municipal election issues in Owen Sound, Kincardine, and Collingwood.
Commissioned by the One Point Association of REALTORS® and conducted by Nanos Research, the survey gathered responses from 769 residents between April 18 and 28, 2026.
The Municipality of Kincardine, in partnership with Bruce County, Women’s House and Community Living, engaged Flourish to develop a business plan to support the creation of much needed affordable housing in the Municipality of Kincardine. The study explored the potential of both municipally owned land and privately owned property identified by a potential partner.
The goal of the report is to provide a development pro forma for affordable and mixed rental housing in the community, aligned with key funding sources and available local resources.
Housing Development
With growing industries and businesses, the Municipality of Kincardine is working to increase the housing supply and expand the range of housing options available in the community. The Municipality of Kincardine is interested in working with developers to address local housing shortages, challenges, and needs.
Several new subdivisions are currently underway in Kincardine, Tiverton, and Inverhuron - approximately 1,700 new residential units. These represent a mix of single family homes, semis, condominiums, and apartments.
If you have any questions or proposals you'd like to discuss with us, please e-mail us or call 519-396-3468.
Bruce County Housing Services
Bruce County's Housing Services Division manages the administration and directly provides housing supports, services, and programs.
Learn more about the County's Housing Toolkit for Developers
Homelessness and Encampment Response
The Municipality of Kincardine works in partnership with Bruce County Human Services, which is responsible for housing and homelessness services in our region.
Bruce County has developed a Homelessness and Encampment Response Protocol to support a coordinated, compassionate, and safety-focused approach when responding to individuals experiencing homelessness.
If you are concerned about the well-being of someone who is unhoused, or if you encounter a homelessness encampment, please contact:
YMCA Rural Housing & Homelessness Outreach
After-hours emergency shelter support:
- Call 211
In an emergency or if someone is in immediate distress:
- Call 911
For more information on available services and supports, visit:
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